Griffin Station - Moon

Another mag empty, another zombie dead and another wave successfully survived. How long has she been playing by Richtofen's rules? Minutes? Days? Perhaps even weeks? However long it was, it was far too long. Even the mere seconds were hard to bear now that she was the one fighting for her life.

This side of the game wasn't as fun.

Samantha sighed and began to trace her finger over the inscriptions carved into her Pack-A-Punched rifle. With all the power held within it's chamber, it'd probably be a quick and painless death if she were to shoot herself. To any other person the thought would be a grim one, but to her it was an almost joyous thing to have on her mind. Her life was something of a Hell since Richtofen decided to betray her father and the feeling of release that engulfed her whenever she was close to death was magnificent. She never got the freedom she wanted though, as Takeo would always come in the nick of time, his ray gun bursting with futuristic power and making short work of her attackers.

The Imperial Captain never failed to rescue her when she was in an inescapable situation, often telling her that he would always help when he could. It was these acts of kindness that drew her to him in between the waves of zombies. They would sit down in the Bio-Dome, remove their helmets and then the Japanese soldier would give her tips on aiming or general survival. Sometimes Dempsey and Nikolai joined them for a group chat on their favorite tactics or on occasion, just talk about whatever came to mind. It was one thing she enjoyed about this side of the game, at least.

She took a seat on one of the pillow-like pads placed around the dome to catch anyone with the misfortune of accidentally stepping on a launch-pad without a sense of direction. It was surprisingly soft, considering that they were placed here in 1944.

"Ah, here you are Samantha." Takeo greeted, taking a seat next to her.

She looked at him and gave the man a strained smile, "Hey Takeo."

"Are you well?"

"Yeah, I am fine. Just… Sad I guess."

"Then do not be. The solution is that simple."

"I know but, vell, it is tiring to be here. In zis world."

Those words baffled Takeo, as long as he knew her she was a bloodthirsty child that wanted nothing more than to cause pain to her foes and in particular; Edward. How could she possibly be weary of seeing the gore she so very much appeared to enjoy?

"You grow tired of the bloodshed?"

"No, no I really like zat part it is just zat… I vish I could be vith daddy."

Takeo chuckled to himself for forgetting that even though she was something of an abomination, she was still a child at heart. Her father was the only parental figure she had and now he was gone. Least that's how it seemed at first glance. The way Ludvig Maxis guided them to launching the missiles at Earth had made him suspicious of whether or not he was truly deceased and was in fact somehow trapped in the machinery of this base. It certainly wasn't out of the question considering the events at that Soviet Cosmodrome.

"Do not dwell on the past young one. You will find only sorrow in the events that have long since passed, and I do not wish to see you with a frown so very often."

Samantha's voice began to break a little, "It is hard not to though! I am both an orphan und an old man now! There is so much zat has gone wrong und…. und it makes me vant to cry sometimes…"

Takeo stared at the young girl for a moment, taking in her words and forming a way to counter them for the better. The very thought of what Richtofen had done to such a young child filled Takeo with an unholy rage that threatened to consume him. He could not undo what has happened, no matter how much he would like to be able to do so for her sake. He vowed vengeance against Group 935 and that was the most he could do; for someday he would fulfill it. He wanted to assuage her pain now though, and he knew of no possible way to do that.

Then a thought arrived in an uncomfortable package. It made his heart twist and his stomach queasy. If he knew how to blush or stutter, he very well may have done so at that moment.

"Samantha," He began, taking a breath, "I cannot bring back your father. As much I am great, I cannot do what is impossible. However, I can do this:"

Takeo leaned close and suddenly wrapped his arms around her, granting her a tight embrace that no one has ever experienced before. It was awkward, strange, and every feeling that ran through him was saying that he had no business even performing such an action, but at the same time he could not deny that it felt natural. This was new territory for him as affection was something he never expressed before, but for the sake of his newest and most valued, friend he could try to display it.

The young German girl was stunned by the random hug, as she neither had nor expected such a thing from Takeo. She wasn't sure what to do, but she slowly placed her arms around him in response, feeling the warmth of his grasp engulf her. For the moment she wasn't a sadistic monster trapped in a mad scientist's body anymore, she was Samantha Maxis. She was a young girl again. She was a child sharing a tight embrace… with a father.

"I can treat you as if you were my own." He said softly.